Why Retire in the Philippines/Marinduque Vacations: The Other Women Who Have Touched My Life

Planning to Retire Soon!

If you are planning to retire in the Philippines soon, I suggest you visit several excellent websites on pro's and cons of retiring in the Philippines. However if you want to retire in the provinces, where life is simple, standard of living cheaper, less traffic congestion and pollution, availability of fresh seafood and vegetables compared to the big cities, my island province is the place for you! If this is your first time in my site, welcome. Some of the photos and videos on this site, I do not own. However, I have no intention on the infringement of your copyrights. The photo above is the front yard of Chateau Du Mer- Our Retirement Home in Boac, Marinduque, Philippines

Friday, October 22, 2021

The Other Women Who Have Touched My Life

This is my response to the inquiry on the other women who have touched my life for the StoryWorth Book of Memories. The following photos are some of the other women that have touched my life besides my Mother ( Paz Barrido Balleza Katague-RIP) and my spouse for over 63 years ( Macrine(a) Nieva Jambalos (RIP).

These photos are not deepfakes( my article the other day) but real from my extensive photo collection compiled for the last 4 decades.

Macrine( bride) and Sister Guia ( bridesmaid), Katague-Jambalos Wedding May 8, 1957

The Four Sisters( Fe, Sister Guia, Charro and Jean) of Macrine and First Cousin, Angie Jambalos Aulds, 2015. I love my four sisters-in-law and Angie too.

Dinah and Elaine, 2014

Ditas and Carenna, 2016

Grand Daughter, Alix Katague at Cornell University Gardens, 2014

Grand Daughter, Marina Katague High School Graduation Photo

Grand Daughter, Carenna Katague Thompson, 2016

Daughter Ditas and Me, 1982

Grand Daughters Marina and Alix Katague-Daughters of Dodie Katague-my oldest son, 2014

Dinah and Elaine, 2016

Carenna with her guitar getting ready for her singing weekly night club gig

My Three Sisters, Myrla, Agnes and Amor, 2014

Macrine's niece, Yuka Maeda Chilan-Had been very thoughtful during Macrine's passing away for this whole year along with her family.

Mama Elena with her step-Mother ( Lola Elving Sarmiento) and Step Sisters and Brother ( Tito Wil)

Last but not least my Nanny: I do not have a photo of my yaya (nanny), who took care of me when I was 2 years old( a polio victim) until I turned 7 years old. When the Japanese-American war started in 1941, we have to move from the city to the ancestral town of my mother in Barotac Viejo, Iloilo. It is still fresh in my memory how overprotected my Nanny was. She will not permit me to play with the other children in the neighborhood, because they were dirty and rough. I remember her to be in her 50's and a large woman but with a gentle voice. I cried for days when we she was not able to join us and she had to go back to her own hometown. The day we separated was the last time I heard of her!!

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Fruit Trees in the Gardens of Chateau Du Mer

The Mango Tree-I have three varieties in my Garden-The Indian, Guimaras and Carabao Mangoes My caretaker/gardener informed me last month that due to the El Nino drought in Marinduque, two of my Durian trees died in spite of his vigilant watering. One of the tree was attacked by insects that looks like a big fly but yellowish in color that sucks the sap of the seedling. The roots of the other tree was attacked by ants residing in the soil. However, my other fruit trees, the rambutans( 2), the lanzones(2) and the jack fruits ( 2) trees are doing well. The above eight fruit trees were given to me by Retired General Recaredo Sarmiento of Boac and Lucena., about three years ago. General Sarmiento is the “atid” of my wife. “Atid” is the colloquial term for brother. Evidently, Macrine's father, the late Bernardo Jambalos was the Godfather of General Sarmiento during his baptism and comfirmation. Gen Sarmiento's hobby is orchard planting, reforestation and farming. The other fruit trees in my garden are guayabanos, cashew, avocados, starapples, duhats, ates, guavas, mangoes( 3 varieties) and papayas as well as several varieties of bananas . Of the above fruit trees, my favorite is the guayabanos, also known as soursop tree known for its anti-tumor and anti-cancer properties . The following are photos of the fruit trees. The Durian photo is from the web. Note that it almost look like a jack fruit tree, except that the leaves are bigger and shiny. My desire is to have a passion fruit tree in the near future. You are welcome to visit my orchard and flower gardens any time, if perchance you are in the vicinity of The Chateau Du Mer Beach Resort and Conference Center.

The Rambutan Tree and Fruits

The Lanzone Tree and Fruits

The Jack Fruit Tree

The Durian Fruit Tree